1
What is sustainable agriculture, and how does it differ from industrial agriculture?
INFOGRAPHIC 17.1
True or False: To qualify as sustainable, agriculture practices must maintain or improve the quality of the environment.
TRUE
Identify at least three ways that the duck/rice farm mimics a sustainable ecosystem.
Just like a sustainable ecosystem, the farm relies on biodiversity for a number of tasks: for pest control (ducks and fish eat pests); to provide fertilizer (animal waste and nitrogen fixation by azolla); for some of the “labor” for the farm so less fossil fuels need to be used (no machinery to apply pesticides or fertilizers).
2
What environmental problems result from the use of industrial agriculture methods such as the application of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides?
INFOGRAPHICS 17.2 AND 17.3
Which of the following is not an advantage of farming with monocultures?
Higher yields
Ease of planting and harvest
Fewer pest outbreaks
Works well on a large scale
C
The use of synthetic fertilizers on fields where crops are grown can:
increase crop yields.
contribute to water pollution.
deplete the soil of other nutrients.
A and B.
A, B, and C.
E
Explain how the use of chemical pesticides can lead to the emergence of a pesticide-resistant population of pests. How could it also lead to the emergence of a population even bigger than the original pest population?
Whenever a pesticide is applied it usually does not kill all the individuals of the pest population. If some pest individuals survive because they happen to be naturally resistant, they will breed and pass on the genetic trait of resistance to their offspring. The next generation will thus contain mostly resistant individuals. Application of a pesticide might even increase the size of the pest population by killing the predators that eat the pests.
3
What are some examples of methods employed by those pursing sustainable agriculture, and how do these methods decrease the impact of farming?
INFOGRAPHICS 17.4, 17.5, AND 17.6
Techniques used in sustainable agriculture practices include:
crop rotation to minimize crop pests.
frequent use of herbicides to keep weeds down.
flooding crops frequently with abundant water to reduce pests and increase runoff of excess nutrients.
abundant use of fertilizers to allow plants to reach their full capacity.
A
Biological control in an integrated pest management (IPM) system might include:
the application of organic herbicides and pesticides.
using species such as fish to eat weeds or pests.
removing habitat that might harbor pests.
all of the above.
B
The presence of ducks and azolla in Takao Furuno’s rice cultivation technique has shown that:
ducks must be eliminated from rice fields because they eat the rice seed before it can grow.
invasive species like ducks and azolla diminish rice yields.
crops such as rice cannot succeed without azolla to provide shade and ducks to provide pollination.
restoring some biodiversity to rice fields reduces pest damage and increases rice yields.
D
4
What role does the consumer play in helping build a sustainable food system?
INFOGRAPHIC 17.7
One major way to reduce the carbon footprint of the foods you eat is to:
eat local, industrially produced food.
eat produce shipped in from countries where it can be grown “in season.”
eat foods that are grown using organic methods, even if not locally grown.
only eat foods that are grown with conventional industrial methods.
C
In regard to agriculture, the “dirty dozen” refers to:
the 12 pesticides organic farmers are banned from using.
the 12 conventionally grown fruits or vegetables highest in pesticide residue.
the 12 most destructive crop pests.
the 12 countries that use the highest amounts of pesticides on crops.
B
5
What are the advantages and disadvantages of sustainable farming? Can it feed the world?
TABLE 17.1
True or False: All sustainably grown food can be certified organic.
FALSE
Which of these is not an advantage of sustainable agriculture?
Fresher, better-tasting produce that may be healthier to eat
Maintained or enhanced soil quality
More genetic diversity in crops
Higher productivity per acre than with conventional methods
D
What advantage do perennial crops have over annual crops?
Perennial crops don’t need fertilizers.
The soil is not disturbed to replant perennial crops each year.
Perennial crops have more shallow roots and can access irrigation water better than annual crops.
Perennial crops are more tolerant of herbicides than annual crops.
B
Look over the disadvantages of sustainable agriculture in Table 17.1. Propose actions that could address each.
Answers may vary but here are some possibilities:
Disadvantages for the consumer:
Sustainably grown crops may be more expensive. Solution: transfer at least some subsidies from industrial agriculture to sustainable agriculture. Organic produce may have more blemishes and shelf life of sustainable produce is shorter (not waxed, not picked before ripe). Solution: Educate consumers to be more accepting of blemished produce and to understand the nutritional value or fresher produce. Greenwashing can mislead consumers. Solution: Better education for consumers or better regulation on labeling.
Disadvantages for the farmer and environment
May be more labor intensive. Solution: This could provide more jobs for local workers (so it may not be a disadvantage) when the farmer considers the savings from purchasing fewer expensive inputs (fossil fuels and chemicals). Crops grown sustainably may not be as productive per acre as industrially farmed crops (in the short term). Solution: Sticking with sustainable production may lead to higher production in the long term but for the short term, society may have to depend on conventionally grown crops; growing more plant crops for food rather than animals for food will also make the food supply go further. Fewer government subsidies are available for sustainable agriculture compared to those for industrially grown crops. Solution: Transfer subsidies from industrial to sustainable agriculture. The certification process for getting crops to be labeled as organic takes time and is costly to farmers. Solution: Streamline the process and/or underwrite the certification process (i.e. grants) to give farmers the money to get thorough the 3 year certification process.
Disadvantages for society:
Productivity per acre is lower for some sustainably produced food (but higher for others). Solution: Choose the best varieties and crops and growing methods for each area (requires the research mentioned below). Research is needed to identify best methods and crops for a given area. Solution: Fund research to identify the best methods and crops. Seek out indigenous knowledge that may inform this research. Farmers need training to implement these systems (though if indigenous methods are used, it may be the locals who educate the researchers). Solution: Provide training to farmers either from outside “experts” or local farmers using traditional methods.
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